la familia es todo

the night is surprisingly still, save for the sounds of insects and passing traffic a little while off - the humidity clings to her body, curling her hair inward toward her face, making the proximity of her clothes feel far more tense than usual. still, it won't rain.

her eyes are dark as she stares at him, as her fingers swipe at the elasticated neckline of her dress, dragging it down, down, off of her frame, until the fabric hits the floor pathetically, leaving her naked apart from her underwear, head tilting as briefly, she takes a look at the wound he likely was wanting to look at instead.

lalo wasn't with her. nor does it matter, he's not in the job of saving her. and as it happens she's not in the job of being saved. vik loves that dress, which is now some sad crumpled bloodstained heap at her feet. a reminder of being licked. oh she must hate that. he will see to it that the dress is cleaned, or at least that someone tries to fix it up.

i'm gonna cut you good, sucker.

i was up til five this morning trading shots of tequila.

you lost your temper, right?

hey, shortstop.

sometimes i feel guilty.

you forget where the ocean is?

free enterprise, dude. take it or leave it.

check it out. twelve grand cash.

don't worry. i'm gonna get you some new clothes.

you guys have got a sick sense of humor.

haven't changed much, have you?

i haven't heard one word from you for the whole stinking week.

you free for a drink later?

how's my boy?

you suppose if i had been in some other line of work, things would have been different?

you're welcome to spend the night. i'll make up the couch.

you must be crazy.

i've killed people for less.

spare me the tough talk.

hey, twinkle toes. we gotta talk.

keep up the good work, princess.

lately it's been looking a lot like disney world.

i'd sort of like to keep it that way, if you catch my drift.

are you down here for some specific value, or are you just working on your tan?

instead of beating up on each other, why don't you guys consider working together?

it's a great day to be alive.

have some coffee and doughnuts.

down here, you're just another amateur.

i couldn't let you handle all that bad karma by yourself.

get your stinking, filthy hands off me!

you're starting to get on my nerves.

it's called protective custody, son.

i think it's time you reconsider my offer, pal.

you need me.

you're not exactly up my alley, style and personawise.

i think we might have to consider some sort of temporary working relationship.

you enjoy beating a dead horse?

very good. next week we'll work on your name.

hi, sweetheart, look. i need to ask a favor of you.

tv's where i learned to speak english so good.

it's called staying alive. i'll explain it to you sometime.

never trust anyone in this business.

there's not a hell of a lot you can do about it now.

maybe i'm getting too old for this.

forget who i am? darling, sometimes i remember who i am.

it's like the song says, "she left me at sears and i cried all the way to walgreens."

you can play that routine from now til doomsday, but i don't believe it.

you can be a real pain in the butt sometimes. but i like you.

rise and shine, buddy boy.

unless you want your entire intestinal tract lit up like cape canaveral, you got exactly ten seconds to tell me who you are.

when it gets personal, it gets messy.

if you wanna know where i got the money, just ask me.

i got nothing to say to you.

nothing like having some guy roll over at sunup and whisper his ex-wife's name in your ear to boost your self-image.

as a matter of fact, your old lady gave me this shirt, and it wasn't my birthday.

waiting's over, dead man.

i hope you brought an appetite.

not this time, son.

i think we'd better handle this outside.

i never expected anybody to get killed.

i took a bullet for you, for god's sakes.

i trusted you, you bastard! i trusted you!

honey, don't do that. you know better than that.

the way we used to be together. it was real, wasn't it?

beans make you fart.

you could have been caught. what if somebody saw?

the laws are medieval down here.

there's nothing to worry about until there's something to worry about.

just relax. please.

there's a cop behind us.

fuck! what are we gonna do now?

ridiculous. all this over a can of tuna.

it was a stupid thing to do.

i'll sign a statement or whatever makes this whole thing easier.

it wasn't planned out. you know, it just happened.

your friend has put you in a lot of trouble.

we figured the weather and the scenery would be nicer going through the south.

at what point did you shoot the clerk?

do you know any great attorneys?

you stick out like a sore thumb around here.

oh, yeah. you blend.

i bet the chinese food here is terrible.

that's just a figure of speech.

gotta let everybody know you're a tourist.

what are you, a fucking world traveler?

cute little guy.

if i was in your situation, i'd want to get through this whole thing as quickly and with as little pain as possible.

maybe we should spend a couple of minutes together, you know, to get acquainted before we, uh, you know, before we get to it.

you're getting fucked one way or the other.

excuse me, but i think a modicum of gratitude would not be out of line here.

it's your ass, not mine.

i think you should be down on your fucking knees.

you're getting me for nothing, you little fuck.

boy, that's one hell of an ego you've got.

i did not come down here just to get jerked off.

six times was a charm.

win some, lose some.

this is not the forum to be cavalier.

i'm not a patient man.

don't think being from new york you're gonna get special treatment.

want to sit at the counter?

what's the story with this incredibly, remarkably loud whistle at 5:30 in the morning?

sure. sure. i heard of grits. i just actually never seen a grit before.

go ahead, honey. you gonna try it?

don't talk to me sitting in that chair.

i'm, uh, wearing, uh, clothes.

comb your hair and wear a suit and tie.

there seems to be a great deal of confusion here.

there are only two ways to answer it: guilty or not guilty.

i don't want to hear commentary, argument, or opinion. i don't even want to hear you clear your throat.

you didn't look like you knew what you were doing.

didn't they teach that in law school?

i thought maybe this summer i would take off a couple of months.

i don't know how you can be so sure when you don't know what it is you're supposed to know.

i learned the hard way.

i could use a good ass kicking, i'll be very honest with you.

over my dead body.

if i was to kick the shit out of you, do i get the money?

wouldn't your mother be more upset if you die?

they love to argue. i mean, they live to argue.

'"dead-on balls accurate"?

i guess the fucking thing is broken.

i heard two loud bangs like firecrackers.

i'm bound to fuck up a little.

you got thrown in jail. twice.

i know i was in jail. i don't need you to point it out to me, okay?

you're supposed to stand by your man, you know, encourage me a little bit.

oh, you are a smooth talker!

you ragging on me is not gonna give me any great spontaneous knowledge.

i don't know. i don't feel good.

how the fuck did i get into this shit?

i think that once you're out there, and you're doing your thing out there, i think you're gonna be really great.

why don't you just tell me your side of the story.

nobody pulls the wool over the eyes of a [last name], especially this one.

all i ask is for that one chance. i think you should give it to me.

there's more to cross examination than knowing what to say. it's knowing what not to say.

how do i know that's not a bunch of ones with a twenty wrapped around it?

i'm a happier man for it.

that's quite a story.

imagine you're a deer. you're prancing along. you get thirsty. you spot a little brook. you put your little deer lips down to the cool, clear water. bam! a fuckin' bullet rips off part of your head. your brains are laying on the ground in little bloody pieces.

that's very impressive finessing.

it's called disclosure, you dickhead.

what are you nervous about? i'm the one under the gun here.

i'm watching you go down in flames, and you're bringing me with you, and i can't do anything about it.

my biological clock is tickin'! like! this!

i ain't slept in five days.

this is very romantic.

i thought it would be a nice surprise.

are you on drugs?

i don't like your attitude.

everything that guy just said is bullshit.

you will not use that kind of language. you understand me?

putz.

what is a "yout"?

don't shake your head. i'm not done yet.

no self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.

perhaps the laws of physics cease to exist on your stove.

that is a lucid, intelligent, well thought out objection.

i'd like to speak to you in my chambers.

you're a dead man.

no, you can't help. i wish you could, but you can't.

and i didn't think i could feel worse than i did a couple of seconds ago. thank you.

i will ask you one more time and one more time only.

please. i only have three minutes.

honey, come on now.

we don't have a lot of time. just shut up.

what is it with you with that mouth?

i don't give a shit! leave me alone!

you think i'm hostile now, wait til you see me tonight.

fiancée? well, that would certainly explain the hostility.

sit down and stay there until you're told to leave.

it's a bullshit question. it's impossible to answer.

the defense is wrong.

i find it hard to believe that this kind of information could be ascertained simply by looking at a picture.

a corvette could never be confused with the buick skylark.

you've been a lovely, lovely witness.

i'm sorry to have ever doubted you at any time.

i want you to know, you got an open invitation anytime you want to come down here.

i feel like if i don't get out of here now, i might never be able to leave.

this could be a sign of things to come.

oh, my god, what a fuckin' nightmare!

i thought we'd get married this weekend.

this is not romantic.

i want a wedding in church with bridesmaids and flowers.

how many times did you say that spontaneous is romantic?